Softball wins series against Rhodes

Ronni Ferris

Mar 27, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The Birmingham-Southern softball team beat Rhodes College twice today to win the series, 3-1, after splitting yesterday. The Panthers won both games today by the score of 5-4, with game one going to eight innings. BSC now stands at 15-7 overall and 6-2 in the SCAC.

In the first game, Rhodes scored one run in the top of the first inning and BSC answered with two runs in the bottom of the first on RBI doubles by sophomores Brittany Berkopec and Chelsea Fernandez. The Lynx tied it up in the top of the third, and the Panthers answered again with two runs in the bottom of the third, scoring on a wild pitch and an RBI double by junior Beth Lefler.

Rhodes came back and tied it up in the top of the seventh, and sophomore Danielle Rucker hit the game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth for BSC.

Lefler was 3-of-4 at the plate and junior Ronni Ferris was 2-of-3. Both teams recorded eight hits. Ferris (9-5) also got the win in the circle, throwing all eight innings and recording six strikeouts.

In game two, BSC was the first team to score, getting two runs in the bottom of the first on a two-RBI single from Fernandez. Rhodes tied it up in the top of the fourth, and took the lead in the top of the fifth before BSC took back the lead in the bottom of the fifth with RBI doubles by Berkopec and Fernandez and an RBI ground-out by Lefler. Rhodes was able to score one run in the top of the sixth, but no more than that, and BSC held on for the 5-4 victory.

Bice, Berkopec, and Fernandez were all 2-of-3 at the plate, and Fernandez led with three RBI. BSC recorded 11 hits, and Rhodes had seven. Lefler (6-2) got the win after throwing five innings, and Ferris got the save when she came in for the final two innings and struck out four batters.

The Panthers are at home again next weekend, hosting SCAC rival Sewanee in 1 p.m. doubleheaders, Saturday and Sunday.